Major League Baseball Designates Special Days

A Sports Review of Major League Baseball's Annual Tribute to honor Three Outstanding Baseball Players

In recent years, Major League Baseball has set aside special days to honor the contribution particular players have made to the world of professional baseball. Each of these players are now celebrated on their special day every baseball season.

Jackie Robinson Day

Begun on April 15, 2004, Jackie Robinson Day is now an annual event each season on April 15th. The event commemorates and honors the day Jackie Robinson made his major league debut. The April 15 date was selected, as it was Opening Day of Robinson’s first season in 1947. 

On April 15, MLB ballparks throughout baseball, including all teams and the umpires, celebrate this day by wearing Robinson’s number 42, his  uniform number. His debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers (today's Los Angeles Dodgers) ended approximately 80 years of baseball segregation and breaking forever what was known as the baseball color line. Additionally, Robinson's number has been retired throughout baseball and no one else will ever again wear #42.

Lou Gehrig Day

Lou Gehrig Day, held annually by MLB on June 2nd, marks the day Gehrig became the starting first baseman for the New York Yankees. 

Lou Gehrig Day, an annual event since June 2, 2021, honors the legacy of the legendary "Iron Horse" and raises awareness for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. 

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is commonly known as "Lou Gehrig's disease," because his high-profile battle with the disease helped raise public awareness and recognition of the condition. 

Gehrig was diagnosed with ALS in June of 1939, forcing him to retire from baseball.  At the “Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day" at Yankee Stadium set up to honor Gehrig for his sportsman-like behavior and dedication to the game, Lou gave his famous speech where he called himself “the luckiest man on the face of the earth.”

Roberto Clemente Day

In 2002, MLB proclaimed September 15th to be “Roberto Clemente Day". 

Roberto Clemente played outfield for the Pittsburgh Pirates for 18 seasons. He is remembered for his power on the field, but, more importantly, for his humanitarian work. Clemente died in a plane crash on New Year's Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. 

Each year, teams across the league honor his memory by giving back to their communities.  His legacy continues to inspire both players and fans to make a positive impact in their communities. 

Summary

The baseball players presented here are recognized for their contributions on and off the playing field. Each year MLB honors these three legendary players with special days to commemorate their lives and contributions to both the game of baseball and to society.

Related Reviews:

• Who was Roberto Clemente by Sam Monaco

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*MLB’s Special Days to honor three outstanding baseball players has been written by Wednesday Elf 

+Image sources in this article are from Pixabay and Wikipedia

Jackie Robinson: The Inspiring Story of One of Baseball's Greatest Legends (Baseball Biography Books)

Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig

Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero

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Every Note Played Book Review

Every Note Played: A Novel by Lisa Genova

Welcome to the world of the classical pianist or rather, to the world of a famous classical pianist who has ALS.

Stay with him as the disease progresses through his body and takes away not just his ability to play the piano. Watch as it quickly robs him of all of his body functions starting with the use of his arms and legs and going on to eventually claim his ability to talk, to eat and even to breathe.

I am sure that introduction will NOT make you want you to read Every Note Played by Lisa Genova but please do not let it put you off. As the cover says, this books contains “searing writing and it is a must read.”

Genova is a neuroscientist who writes books about people living with neurological diseases. She wrote Still Alice, which was about the life of a women with early-onset Alzheimer’s.

As a matter of fact, Every Note Played relates directly to Still Alice. The man who directed the movie Still Alice was diagnosed with ALS shortly before he read the story and he directed the movie while suffering the symptoms. He did so without a voice and using one finger on an iPad.

We have all heard of ALS, of the Ice Bucket Challenge and know that Stephen Hawking had it. However, many of us do not know much about the disease nor do we really understand what it is like to live with it. Every Note Played will change that fact.

Genova reads the medical books, interviews the experts and gets to know the patients so that we do not have to. Using that thorough research into all aspects of the disease, she brings us information about the disease in the form of a fictional story.

In Every Note Played, there are some truly exceptional and caring people but there is also one totally selfish individual. He just happens to be one of two main characters and the one who has ALS. Imagine being a caregiver for someone who never thought of anyone except himself before he became sick. Doesn't sound great, does it? It certainly makes an interesting story and, of course, not only nice people get ALS. Even unpleasant people need the support of family, friends and the health care system when they are stricken with any disease.

I do recommend this book though, of course, the subject matter is not pretty. It is honest and it is truly a look into living with ALS. It is a medical drama that you will want to end sooner than it does but it manages to be a page turner despite the subject matter. It is a horrible disease but this book, while educational in terms of the disease, is also a well-crafted story about family relations, love and forgiveness. My heart goes out to those stricken with ALS and my wonder, amazement and gratitude goes out to the people who act as caregivers. If you want to learn more, read Every Note Played, which you can find on Amazon right here.

See you
At the book store!
Brenda

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